Improvement in springs for gates and doors



. 1. PALMER.

Improvement in'Springs fur Gates and Doors. No. 129,584, Patented m16,1872.

Ill

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JoHN PALMER, on CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENTJN SPRINGS FOR GATES AND DOORS.

Specification describing certain Improve ments in Springs for Gates andDoors, invented by JOHN PALMER, residing at Cincinnati, in'the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio.

Figure l is an elevation of a gate having my improved spring attachedthereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket which holds theupper end of the spring in position. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section ofthe'bracket on line x a of Fig. 1, showing also the latch which holdsthe rod to which the spring is attached and such rod in section 5 andFig. 4 is an elevation of the rod to which the upper end of the springis attached.

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to that class of springs which are designed to beused upon gates and doors for the purpose of holding them in an open orin a closed position; and it consists in the combination, with a springof a bracket and a hinged latch which looks the head of the spring afterit has been properly wound up, as will be more fully explainedhereinafter.

In constructing and applying my improved spring I attach to the post ofthe gate, or to the frame of the door, a bracket, A, which is soconstructed as to be readily attached thereto, as shown, while upon itsupper surface there is a cylindrical projection, which enters the spacewithin the coils of the spring, and to which its lower end is attached.The spring B consists of a coil of steel, iron, brass, or other suitablewire, which is to be of sufiicient diameter to give it the requisiteamount of force, and of such length as to adapt it to the position inwhich it is to be used. Into the upper end of the spring there isinserted a rod, 0, the lower portion of which is rounded for thatpurpose, while that portion which is above the rounded portion is madesquare, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, its extreme upper end being providedwith an aperture, into which a rod may be inserted for the purpose ofwinding up the spring. D is a bracket, which is attached to the gate ordoor, as is shown in Fig. 1, it being so constructed as to be readilysecured thereto, and so as to receive and hold in position the latch E,as shown in Fig.

v3, said latch having journals upon its sides and a recess in its frontside for allowing it to be turned down and hold the rod 0 and the springin position when said spring has been arranged for holding the door orgate open or closed, it being so arranged that it maybe swung or turnedup when it is desired to give the spring more or less tension, or whenit is desirable to turn the spring from a position in which it will holdthe gate or door in a closed position to one in which it will hold it inanopen one.

The operation of this spring, its parts having been constructed,combined, and arranged substantially as shown, is as follows: Thebracket A having been properly secured, the spring '13 is attached to itin such a manner as to prevent it from rotating thereon; the rod 0 beinginserted into the upper end of said spring and secured therein, thespring is wound up by turning the rod (3 until the tension is sufficientto hold the gate or door open or closed, when the latch E is turned downand the spring is prevented from changing its force or its action; butwhen it is desired to change the position of the gate or door from theclosed or open position and to hold it in such position, thelatch E isreversed or turned up, and the rod 0 is turned until the force of thespring is made to act. in a reverse position, when said latch is againturned down and the spring is thus retained in its new position.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- The combination, with a spring for holding gatesand doors in position, of the bracket D having in it bearings for thereception of the journals upon the latch E, and such latch arranged toclasp the rod 0 and be turned up so as to allow said rod to be rotated,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN PALMER. Witnesses:

A. RUPPERT, W. BRADFORD.

